Ms Corbett told The Hamilton Spectator this week she did not want gays and lesbians working in her kindergarten.

Mr Gaynor, who describes himself as a father of five, an Iraq veteran and Catholic, defended his tweet citing free speech and the right of Christians to hold opinions about "right and wrong".

‘‘If we value free speech and democracy then we would respect the right of Christians to hold their views about right and wrong,’’ he tweeted.

‘‘Parents should have discretion over who teaches their children.’’

Other Twitter users responded viciously, with some calling Mr Gaynor ‘‘hateful’’, ‘‘narrow minded’’ and ‘‘homophobic’’. Another asked Mr Gaynor if he would allow a gay nurse in an emergency department save his child’s life, or ‘‘let them die’’.

Mr Katter, who is on a whistlestop tour of Victoria, was asked about Ms Corbett's comments on Wednesday and told Fairfax Media that "he didn't talk about those things".

"If someone has made some statement like that, I'm bloody sure the party will be making arrangements," he said.

"The party is not interested in that, it never has been, never will be."

He said it angered him that media was interested in someone who had "made a very stupid statement" rather than looking issues such as the plight of farmers and manufacturing workers.

Mr Katter has admitted regretting the homophobic advertisements his party ran during the 2012 Queensland election, which depicted two shirtless men holding each other with the words, ‘‘Is a vote for LNP leader Campbell Newman a vote for gay marriage?’’

Among those who condemned the advertisements as homophobic was Mr Katter’s gay half brother Carl. He tweeted: ‘‘They are using the politics of fear & hate to win vote[s].’’

When announcing his nomination for the senate earlier this month Mr Gaynor, a climate change denier, said he was motivated by a desire to stop the "politically correct policies".

"The politically correct, open-door immigration policy that resulted in the recent Sydney riots and numerous terrorist threats must be scrapped," he told the Toowoomba Chronicle.

"Australians remain sceptical about Greens-driven climate policies that do not reduce temperatures but raise the budgetary heat for families. Climate change is crap and the carbon tax must go."

11 comments

A) never want to be seen as the bad guy despite the bigoted bullshit they arespewing (which is why you'll hear "I didn't mean it that way, you're taking my wordsout of context")

and/or

B) none of their arguments are logical or based on fact. Their arguments are basedon emotional opinion. They're projecting their fear and inability to handle theirfeelings of uncomfortability around diverse populations.

Commenter

Rayne

Date and time

January 24, 2013, 9:33AM

While I agree with much of what Mr Gaynor has had to say, I do not care whether or not a teacher is homosexual, provided that they leave their sexual perversion outside the classroom.Teachers are there to teach the curriculum, nothing else.If a homosexual teacher started to groom either of my boys, the Education Department would be looking for a new teacher.

Commenter

CarlT

Location

crazy old cat man

Date and time

January 24, 2013, 9:37AM

Stunt! And it seemed to have worked.

Commenter

Voter

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

January 24, 2013, 9:40AM

With opinions like those, it surprises me that Bernard hasn't changed his surname by now.

Commenter

Padrino

Location

Ellivarray

Date and time

January 24, 2013, 9:48AM

Iraq war veteran: Served as an intelligence officer. Decorated by Australia and the US.

There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. —Proverbs 6:16–19

Conservative estimates of Iraqi civilian deaths between 2002 and 2012 are approx 110,000. Shedding innocent blood?Intelligence services Australian army: Various techniques are used, by any set of groups, and aimed to influence a target audience's value systems, belief systems, emotions, motives, reasoning, or behavior. It is used to induce confessions or reinforce attitudes and behaviors favorable to the originator's objectives.............and one who sows discord among brothers? Wicked plans? Lies?

His work in the Army seems to have breached several "abominations" to God. But hey, a Gay person teaching is so much worse....... Good luck in the election Sir.

Commenter

Lizzar

Location

Qld

Date and time

January 24, 2013, 9:59AM

And what have you done to serve your country or do you just sit behind a computer and take potshots at the people who do

Commenter

Afghan Vet

Date and time

January 24, 2013, 4:18PM

Romans, lend me your circuses and lions for I have a need not met by Darwinism. The pain, oh the pain of it all.

Commenter

Slogans for Bogans

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

January 24, 2013, 10:03AM

I wouldn't let a KAP voter teach my children.

Commenter

Mike

Date and time

January 24, 2013, 10:11AM

So if a LGBTIQ person was the best teacher in their field this person would not let their children be taught by them - shows how little they actually love their children. Little lesson in free speech for the candidate - promoting hate is not generally considered dependable by said freedom. I love though how some religious folk think it's ok to force or coerce their faith on children before they can make a consenting decision, to instill hatred above reasoning, and a number of other biazzarities, but a teacher who's non-criminal personal life is private, should be denied a right to teach because they disagree with the teacher's private life.

Commenter

Ashar

Location

Brisbane

Date and time

January 24, 2013, 10:23AM

I am an atheist. Does this mean I too have the democratic right to say to Mr Gaynor:

Catholic???Mmmm Judging on the sexual history of some in the church I would say I would not want my kids taught by catholic priests,nuns or brothers.